Ceiling of plural planks with elongated embedded hanger members



May 17, 1966 L E. WRIGHT 3,251,164

CEILING OF FLU HAL PLANKS WITH ELONGATED EMBEDDED HANGER MEMBERS Filed July 16, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet I1 INVENTOR LYLE. E. Wmen-r-r BY w/mwmw QM AT TQRNE'YS May 17, 1966 L E. WRIGHT 3,251,164

CEILING OF PLU RAL PLANKS WITH ELONGATED EMBEDDED HANGER MEMBERS Filed July 16, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

LYLE E. WmeHT ATTOEN EYS United States Patent O s 251 164 CEILING or PLURAL iaranrrs WITH ELONGATED EMBEDDED HANGER MEMBERS Lyle E. Wright, 9019 Spring St, 1?.0. Box 67, Lanharn, Md. Filed July 16, 1963, SeraNo, 295,391 a tClairns. st. 52-283) This invention relates to a ceiling construction generally, and more specifically, to a ceiling construction particularly adapted to installation in structures having spaced rafters or joists.

An important object of this invention is toprovide a ceiling construction adapted for rapid installation, and employing elongated strips of material, the strips being formed of a material such as lightweight plastic ot the type known as foarn plastic, expanded polystyrene, or the like.

Another object of importance is to supply novel hanger means for installation of the ceiling strips, the hanger means permitting installation of the ceiling directly to the joists or rafters without the necessity for furring, and being adapted for leveling of the ceiling during installation.

Another objective of the invention is to provide novel 7 terminal connection means for the sides and ends of the ceiling construction.

General objectives include the provision of an easily installed ceiling structure having sound absorption qualities, one which is inexpensive to install and maintain, and one of decorative appearance.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of the following specification when read in conjunction with the annexed drawings, in which:

FIGURE .1 is a perspective view of a portion of a room having a ceiling construction in accordance with the teachings of this invention installed therein, portions being broken away for clarity of illustration;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged, foreshortened sectional view taken substantially along the section line 22 of FIG- URE 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 3 is another perspective view, showing installation of a portion of the ceiling;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a terminal connection means employed in the invention; and

FIGURE 5 is a detail, sectional view of a modified form of terminal connection means.

The ceiling construction of this invention is adapted for installation in various structures and in association with varying existing support constructions. In the drawings, a typical environment is shown, comprising a room structure having side walls 12, 14, end wall 16, and overhead ceiling 18. Extending transversely between the side walls 12 and 14 is a plurality of spaced rafters or joists 20, each having a lower end edge 22. The foregoing is exemplary of room constructions of a type wherein the ceiling construction may be applied.

The ceiling construction of this invention includes, as a basic structural component, plural planks or strips comprising ceilingmembers 24 formed of foam plastic, ex panded polystyrene, or the like, and readily cut as by sawing. The members 24 each include a rectangular body portion 26 and have side edges 28, 30. Each side edge 30 has a longitudinally extending slot 32 formed therein and extending its full length, and the edges 28 carry hanger means 34 of similar extent. The hangers 34, best illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 3, are formed of readily cut material such as extruded aluminum and each comprises a horizontal, elongated, generally rectangular plate 36 from one edge of which depends a vertical, integral "ice leg member 38. A horizontal, elongated, substantially rectangular member 40 is secured to the leg 38 and includes a first portion 42 underlying the plate 36 and projecting outwardly from the side edge 28 and a second portion 44 embedded in the body portion 26 or otherwise fixed therein as by insertion in a slot. The second portion 44 may have an enlargement 46 on its inner end to aid in maintaining its position when cast in place in the body portion 26 or inserted in a slot formed therein.

The ceiling members 24 are preferably arranged transversely of the joists 20 and cut to selected lengths to extend between the room end walls. The hangers 34 are fixed to the joists or rafters 20 by nails: 48 or the like, driven into the joist edge 22, as shown in FIGURE 3. As shown in FIGURE 2, the members 24 are arranged in side-by-s'ide order, with side edges 28 and 30 adjacent one another. In many instances, a terminal member 24 may be cut to include a terminal side edge 54]. As shown, the slots 32 receive the projecting first portions 42 of the elements 40, thereby supporting one side of the members, the nailing of hangers 34 securing the other sides in place.

One or more side or' end walls 12, 14, or 16, may be provided with a channel member 52 to provide terminal support for the ceiling construction. The channel member 52 is elongated and formed of readily cut material such as extruded aluminum, and has a bight portion 54 with projecting arms 56, 58, the distance between the arms being such that a member 24 is received therebetween. The channel may be secured to the side wall 14 as with nails 60.

The wall opposite that having the channel 52 is supplied with terminal connection means 62. (FIGURE 4), including a plurality of fixed supports 64 secured between the joists 20 as shown in FIGURE 1. The fixed supports 64 each include a vertical plate 66 secured to the wall 12 by nails 65 or the like, and a top wall 68 extends outwardly from the plate at an intermediate location. Depending from the top wall 68 is a side Wall 74), and both the side wall '76 and plate 66 have spaced apart angle plates or lips 72, 74 at their lower ends, the lips being inturned and upwardly angled, there being a space between the lips for a purpose described below. For coaction with the fixed supports 64 there is provided an elongated connection channel or insert '76 having a bottom plate or flange 78 adapted to underlie and support the ceiling member 24 adjacent thereto, and a side member 80. The member 80 is integrally connected to an inwardly bent support arm 82 to which is connected a vertical plate 84 terminating in a rebent lip 86. As shown in FIGURE 2, the lip is extended through the space between the lips 72, 74 and engages the lip 74, thereby vfirmly supporting the end of the member 24 in desired location. The lip 86, plate 84, and arm 82 are slotted as at 88 at selected intervals to fit about the joists 26.

FIGURE 5 shows a modified form of terminal connection means 62a involving plural fixed supports 64a each having a vertical plate 66a fixed to the wall as by a nail 65a, and having a top wall 68a and side wall 70a. The wall 70a and the plate 66a each have inturned, upwardly angled lips 72a, 74a-the lip 72a being. substantially smaller than the lip 74a. An elongated connection channel or insert 76a having a flange 781a and a straight, vertical side wall iltla terminating in an inwardly and downwardly bent lip 86a is supplied, and is adapted for connection with the fixed supports 64a, the lip 86a contacting and interengaging the lips 74a. Due tothe relatively small dimension of the lips 72a, this positions the side 80a closely adjacent to the wall 12.

By reason of the fact that the hanger means 34 are adapted for connection directly to the joists or rafters 20 by nailing of the plate 36, the need for furring prior to application of the ceiling construction of this invention is eliminated. Further, the ceiling construction may be readily leveled during installation since it is not necessary that the plate 36 directly contact the edge 22 of the joists 20.

Having described and illustrated the invention in detail, it is to be understood that this description and illustration is offered merely by Way of example, and that the invention is to be limited in scope only by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a room structure with overhead joists, an interior ceiling comprising:

" a plurality of elongated ceiling strips; each ceiling strip having a first side edge and a second side edge;

the first side edge of each strip having an elongated slot formed therein;

an elongated hanger member for each strip, the hanger members each including a substantially vertical leg with a portion permanently embedded and attached to the second side edge of the strip;

the ceiling strips being arranged in side by side relation with their respective first and second side edges in adjacent, substantially abuttinglocations;

the hanger members having first portions extending 1 t0 the FRANK L.

lengths of the ceiling members.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 11/1945 Urbain 52-283 9/1949 Stitt -52-484 2/1956 Kruger 52484 X 9/1962 Brown 52720 FOREIGN PATENTS 5/1961 Canada.

4/1930 Great Britain. 10/1938 Switzerland.

ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

25 K. E. PAYNE, L. R. RADANOVIC, A. c. PERHAM,

Assistant Examiners. 

1. IN A ROOM STRUCTURE WITH OVERHEAD JOISTS, AN INTERIOR CEILING COMPRISING: A PLURALITY OF ELONGATED CEILING STRIPS; EACH CEILING STRIP HAVING A FIRST SIDE EDGE AND A SECOND SIDE EDGE; THE FIRST SIDE EDGE OF EACH STRIP HAVING AN ELONGATED SLOT FORMED THEREIN; AN ELONGATED HANGER MEMBER FOR EACH STRIP, THE HANGER MEMBERS EACH INCLUDING A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL LEG WITH A PORTION PERMANENTLY EMBEDDED AND ATTACHED TO THE SECOND SIDE EDGE OF THE STRIP; THE CEILING STRIPS BEING ARRANGED IN SIDE BY SIDE RELATION WITH THEIR RESPECTIVE FIRST AND SECOND SIDE EDGES IN ADJACENT, SUBSTANTIALLY ABUTTING LOCATIONS; THE HANGER MEMBERS HAVING FIRST PORTIONS EXTENDING FROM THE LEGS ENTERING AND ENGAGED WITH THE SLOTS OF ADJACENT STRIPS; A PLATE FOR EACH HANGER, THE PLATES BEING SECURED TO THE OVERHEAD JOISTS; AND TERMINAL SUPPORTS FOR THE CEILING STRIPS. 